CT-9-12

Bluebeard

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Dark Knight'

Summary: The plants of 'CT-9-12' are narrower than the plants of 'Dark Knight'. The stem of 'CT-9-12' is thin whereas the stem of 'Dark Knight' is of medium thickness. The shape of the apex of the leaf blade of 'CT-9-12' is obtuse whereas the apex of the leaf blade of 'Dark Knight' is acute. At mid-season, the upper surface of the leaf blade of 'CT-9-12' is dark green whereas the leaf blade of 'Dark Knight' is medium green. The corolla of 'CT-9-12' is broader than the corolla of 'Dark Knight'. The outer side of the corolla is violet blue for 'CT-9-12' whereas the outer side of the corolla of 'Dark Knight' is lighter violet blue.

Description:

PLANT: shrub type, obconical shape, upright growth habit, dense branching, Canada zone 5 winter hardiness
SHOOT/STEM: green to greyed purple, thin, medium to dense pubescence, round in cross-section, smooth bark, absent or very weak glaucosity, dense lenticels, thorns/spines absent

BUD: small, violet, obovoid shape, rounded apex, medium density of pubescence

PETIOLE: no anthocyanin colouration
LEAF: simple type, opposite arrangement along stem
LEAF BLADE: elliptic to lanceolate shape, obtuse apex, cuneate and obtuse base, dentate and deeply crenate margin incisions, no lobing, sparse to medium density of pubescence on upper side, very short pubescence on upper side, dense pubescence on lower side, dark green and glossy on upper side at mid-season, greyed green on lower side at mid-season, no variegation, no anthocyanin colouration of veins on lower side, medium degree of rugosity, weak waviness of margin

INFLORESCENCE: axillary and terminal cymes, medium density of flowers
FLOWER: labiate form, largest lip is deeply fringed
COROLLA: inner side is violet blue (RHS 93C) with darker violet blue (RHS 93B) margin, outer side is violet blue (RHS 93B-C), inner side of corolla throat is white

Origin & Breeding History: 'CT-9-12' was bred and developed by the breeder, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. It originated from an open pollinated cross conducted in 2008 between a seedling designated 'CT-Z-4', as the female parent, and an unknown male parent. From the resulting progeny, 'CT-9-12' was selected for its compact plant growth habit, upright stems, and glossy foliage. Asexual propagation of 'CT-9-12' by vegetative cuttings was first conducted in 2009, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'CT-9-12' was conducted in an outdoor container trial during the spring of 2015 at BioFlora Inc., in St. Thomas, Ontario. It included a total of 12 shrubs each of the candidate and reference variety. All shrubs were grown from rooted cuttings that were each transplanted into a container during the spring of 2015. The observations and measurements were taken from 10 shrubs, or parts of shrubs, of the candidate and reference variety on September 16, 2015. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'CT-9-12' with reference variety 'Dark Knight'

Plant width (cm)

Corolla width (mm)

Colour of corolla (RHS)

Click on image for larger view

Bluebeard: 'CT-9-12' (left) with the reference variety 'Dark Knight' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Bluebeard: 'CT-9-12' (left) with the reference variety 'Dark Knight' (right)

Click on image for larger view

Bluebeard: 'CT-9-12' (left) with the reference variety 'Dark Knight' (right)